Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metal Dust and Its Hazardous Effects on Non-ferrous Foundry Workers' Health

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

Yosri A. Fahim ¹ , Ibrahim W. Hasani ² , Ahmed M. El-khawaga ³ , Heba K. Abdelhakim ⁴ , Nevin E. Sharaf ⁵ , Noha N. Lasheen ⁶

1 - Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Galala City 43511, Suez, Egypt
2 - Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Shamal Private University and M.P.U, Idlib, Syria
3 - Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Galala City 43511, Suez, Egypt
4 - Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
5 - Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
6 - Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Received: 2024-05-16 Accepted : 2024-07-31 Published : 2024-08-20

Keywords: Foundries, Metals dust, 8-OhdG, Blood metals, Oxidative stress,

Abstract :

Exposure to metal dust is a significant occupational hazard for foundry workers. This study aimed to investigate exposure to potentially toxic metals and oxidative stress indices and assess the health risk of occupational exposure to metal dust among foundry workers. Environmental and biological exposures to a cocktail of metals were examined by measuring the concentration of Aluminum (Al), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), and Chromium (Cr) in the air of the workplace, as well as in the blood of the exposed workers. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced blood glutathione (GSH) and urinary 8- hydroxydeoxy guanosine (8-OH-dG) were measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress. All air measurements were below the maximum allowable limits (MAL) except for Al and Ni according to American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Here is significantly elevated Blood Al, Zn, Cu, and Pb levels in exposed workers. Moreover, MDA and 8-OHdG levels significantly increased (P<0.0001). In contrast, the mean level of GSH was reduced considerably in exposed workers compared to the control group (P<0.0001). The MDA acts as a marker with the highest Area Under the Curve (AUC), enabling effective differentiation between the exposed and control subjects (AUC = 0.968; Sensitivity = 90%, Specificity =100%; P <0.0001). Workers occupationally exposed to these metals for prolonged periods possessed higher metal levels in their bodies, which is associated with increased oxidative stress, which consequently causes DNA damage.

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